Multiple-hatch construction for vessels.



E. S. HOUGH. MULTIPLE HATCH CONSTRUCTION FCB vBssBLs.

APPLICATION FILED JAH. Z3. 1.912,

Patented 'July 23, 1912.

@es @ai EDWARD S. HOUGrHy 0F SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

MULTIPLE-HATCH CONSTRUCTION FOR VESSELS.

Specification of Letters I Patent.

Patented July 23, 14912.

Application tiled January 23, 1912. Serial No. 672,901.

To alt whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD S. Hoiicii, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of San Francisco and State of' California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Multiple-Hatch Construction for Vessels, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improved construction of vessels, in which large multiple hatches are employed for the handling of bulky material, which is preferably done directly by machinery. Y

It consists in the novel construetionand reinforcinY aof the longitudinal and transverse meiriiiers of the vessel structure, and in details of construction which willvbe more fully explained by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan View of the invention. Fig. 2 is a cross section. Fig. 3 is an enlarged View of the rail girder. Fig. 4 is an enlarged View of the central box girder.

, For the purpose of handling bulky material and particularly in the lumber trade on the Pacific Coast, where the lumber is usually much longer and heavier than else-A where, it is desirable to have hatches of the largest possible size, so that lumber may be it to the keelson.

introduced and removed by mechanical devices, and the work of stevedoring and handling of the material, with the attendant expense, be greatly reduced. For this purpose I build the vessel preferably with twin hatches A upon opposite-sides of the center, such hatches being very long practically leaving the center of the vessel almost entirely unsupported by deck beams and usual construction. For the purpose of properly strengthening a vessel having such openings, I strengthen the ship, first, by means of a girder 2, which in the present case I have shown to be an open bottom, box girder which may be built of plate steel and angle pieces, as at 3. Such a gli-dei' may have its connection with the central portion o'r keelson ot the vessel by means of a trunk built ongitudinally through the shi or iii other constructions this girder inay e supported at intervals by columns 4 extending through Upon the sides of the vessel I have shown fa strengthening girdcr, which may be biiilt up, as heiein shown, iii the forni of :iii I-section transversely. This section may be made by employing what are known as the sheer or bulWark-strakes of the vessel 5 and 6 to form one portion of the girder; the web will then be formed by a Stringer plate 7, which extends from the side of the vessel to the hatches, and the hatch coaming 8 will form the other flange of the I-beam. Thus, these strengthening beams enter into and form a part of the vessels construction and are capable of resisting enormous strains. In order to imite these girders atl-"suitable intervals and to form a bond between them, I employ transverse deck stays 9, extending from one therewith.

By this construction I am enabled to make the vesselisufliciently stili to resist strains, and to employ hatches which may be as much as 35 or 40 feet in length by 17 feet or more in width, depending on the size of the vessel, so that while a suicient strength may be guaranteed, the openings will allow cranes or deiricks to be used to handle and place the long timbers which may be the cargo of a lumber vessel, or other equivalent bulky material.

Having thus described my invention,what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is l. A vessel having twin hatches, strengthening girders extending longitudinally upon each side of said hatches, a central girder of inverted box-like form, vertical supports between said girder and the keelson, and transverse deck stays extending between the central and side girders.

2. vessel having twin hatches,side girdei's, the webs of said girders being horizontal and forming the Stringer plates of the vessel, and the top and bottom flanges being vertically disposed and forming respectively the hatch coaniing 'and the sheer and biilwark strakes, a central inverted box girder having supported connections between itself' and the keelson, and transverse stays at iiitervals between the side and central gii'ilei's.

ln testimony whereof I have hereunto lset iiiy hand iii the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

EDW'Altl) S. ll()li(ill.

Witnesses:

Ciiiiiiiius EnniiiiiiN, Jo1i N H. Iliiiiiiinu.

girder to the other and united 

